Picture projector for advertising



Oct. 14, 1969 R. G. ZUILI 3,472,536

PICTURE PROJECTOR FOR ADVERTISING Filed Aug. 29, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet lOct. 14, 1969 Filed Aug. 29, 1966 R. G. ZUILI PICTURE PROJECTOR FORADVERTISING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 14, 1969 R. G. zu|| 3,472,586

PICTURE PROJECTOR FOR ADVERTISING Filed Aug. 29, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Fig.3

Oct. 14, 1969 R. s. ZUILI PICTURE PROJECTOR FOR ADVERTISING 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 29, 1966 United States Patent 3,472,586PICTURE PROJECTOR FOR ADVERTISING Ren Gilbert Zuili, 77-79 Avenue FelixFaure, 92 Nanterre, France Filed Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 575,605 Claimspriority, application France, Sept. 6, 1965, 30,507; June 28, 1966,67,174 Int. Cl. G03b 21/26 US. Cl. 353-30 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A fixed view projector used for projecting advertising imageson a screen in a shop window or on the walls of a room. Two separateprojection systems and a switching device for operating them isprovided. Images are exhibited in a continuous succession of operatingcycles during predetermined portions of each of which different luminouseffects are successively provided. The switching device is cam operatedand includes contact breakers connected in the supply circuits for theprojector lamps.

The present invention relates to a projector which is particularlyadapted for projecting, on a screen in a shop window or on the walls ofa room, advertising images, commercial slogans, trademarks, and thelike.

The motion-picture projectors are not well adapted for that purpose, asthe film is expensive and has a limited duration. The conventionaldevices for projecting transparencies enable one to exhibit fixed imagesduring any time interval which may be useful, but the exhibition isintermittent and lacks the life and attractiveness which would draw theattention of the customer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixed viewprojector adapted for exhibiting advertising images in a continuoussuccession of operation cycles during predetermined portions at each ofwhich different luminous effects are successively provided, in view ofobtaining a continuous exhibition endowed with attractiveness.

Advertising displays in which different luminous effects are cyclicallyprovided are well known in outdoor advertising, for instance, theelectric specaculars, composed of luminescent tubes successivelyflashing in accordance with various patterns of colours and shapes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a projector which isadapted for exhibiting advertising displays each comprising varioussuccessive patterns, on a transparent screen in a shop window, yet beingsimple in design and making use of a small number of transparencies foreach advertising display.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the projectorincludes first and second projection systems providing differentlycoloured images, means for adjusting the direction of the beams of thesaid systems so as to focus and superimpose on the same screen the twoimages respectively generated by said systems, and switching means foroperating each of said systems during adjustable predetermined timeintervals.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the invention; of which FIG. 2 is a plan view;and of which FIG. 3, very diagrammatically, shows the optical projectionsystems;

FIG. 4 is a profile sectional view of a locking device for positioningthe cabinet in which the optical projection systems are accommodated;

FIG. 5 shows, partly in profile, partly in section, a mechnaism foradjusting the direction of the axes of the optical projection systems;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows power supply and switching means forsuccessively operating the two optical projection systems; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a transparency which is particularlyadapted for use with the apparatus of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals indicatecorresponding parts in the various figures, it is apparent that theapparatus includes, accommodated in a cabinet 1, two projection systemscomprising the respective projection lamps 2 and 3 and optical systemsrespectively lodged in lens holders 4 and 5. A transparency is insertedin each of the channels 6 and 7, wherein it is maintained in properposition by means of spring leaves 89-10-11.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows that images of the two transparencies areformed by the two respective optical systems and superimposed on atransparent screen on which the advertising terms DRIVING SCHOOL are,for instance, displayed, to be viewed by persons placed behind thescreen. For that purpose, the term DRIV- ING is written on the higherhalf of the first transparency, whereas the term SCHOOL is written onthe lower half of the second one. When the two projection lamps 2 and 3are lighted, the Whole inscription is displayed on the screen, whereasonly one of the words DRIVING and SCHOOL is displayed when only one ofthe lamps is lighted. Moreover, the background of the transparency withthe word DRIVING is, for instance, coloured in blue, Whereas thebackground of the transparency with the word SCHOOL is, for instance,coloured in red. It results that the background of the Whole inscriptionis coloured in purple when the same appears on the screen.

The following display cycle of 5 sec. will for instance be provided:

DRIVING will be displayed on a blue background for 2 sec.

"DRIVING SCHOOL will be displayed on a purple background for 0.5 sec.

SCHOOL will be displayed on a red background for 2 sec.

DRIVING SCHOOL will be displayed on a purple background for 0.5 sec.,

after what, a new cycle will start, with DRIVING displayed on a bluebackground for 2 sec., and so on.

This will be obtained by supplying each of the lamps during successivetime intervals of 3 sec. separated by successive time intervals of 2sec., the operating cycle of one of the lamps being delayed by 2.5 sec.with respect to the operating cycle on the other lamp.

In the embodiment presently being disclosed, this result is obtained asfollows: a switching device includes a cam 12 which is mounted forrotation about: the shaft 13 of a motor and reducer arrangement 14. Thecam 12 has a boss 15 and a recess 16 at its periphery, which iscontinuously engaged by two rollers 16 and 17 (FIG. 6). The rollers 16and 17 are mounted at the respective ends of two resiliently rocka-blelevers 18 and 19, each of which controls the operation of a contactbreaker (20 and 21, respectively). As appears from FIG. 6, two branchesof a circuit are supplied in parallel from the mains and each includesone of the contact breakers, connected in series with one of the lamps 2and 3. Each time the boss 15 engages one of the rollers 16 and 17, thecorresponding lever is rocked away, which has the effect of breaking thecontact in the corresponding branch of the circuit, thus switching outthe corresponding lamp. The contact is 3 broken until the roller againengages the recess, at which time the spring-lever is drawn back in aposition wherein the contact is again made.

Referring more particularly now to FIG. 3, it appears that each of thetwo optical systems includes a condenser comprised of two lano-convexlenses 22 and 23 and an objective comprised of a biconvex lens 24.

Referring more particularly now to FIG. 1, the cabinet 1 is fitted witha handle 25 and normally covered with a removable lid, not shown. It ispivotally supported on a supporting frame 26 which has two upright legssuch as 27 at the upper ends of each of which is mounted an axis (28a,28b). Once the cabinet 1 has been rotated about horizontal axes 28a-28buntil the lens holders 4 and are brought in the direction of the screen,cabinet 1 is locked into its position through the rocking of a lever 29(FIGS. 1-2-4). It appears from FIG. 4 that the rocking of lever 29 hasthe elfect of driving in a screw 31, the head portion of which thenengages the lower part of a disc 30 which is rigidly bound to the axis28a and normally slightly apart from the leg 27. It results that thesaid disc is pushed on leg 27 and that axis 28a locked against rotation.

Once the angle of the two lens holders with respect to the horizontalplane has thus been properly adjusted, the directions of their opticalaxes in the plane in which they are contained (and which issubstantially parallel to the plane of the bottom of cabinet 1) shouldalso be properly adjusted, in view of providing the superimposition ofthe two images on the screen.

It appears from FIGS. 2 and 5 that the lens holders 4 and 5, togetherwith the sockets 32-33 of the lamps, are mounted on plates 34 and 35,respectively. The plates 34 and 35 are pivotally mounted on the bottomplate 36 of cabinet 1, by means of adjustable screws 37 and 38respectively, the heads of which may be reached from the outside, underthe cabinet.

To each of the plates 34 and 35, there is secured a pair of brackets39-40 (FIGS. 2 and 5) and 41-42 (FIG. 2), respectively. A vertical plate43 is wedged into the opposing vertical legs of each pair. A threadedrod 44 is supported at one end by the front plate of the cabinet and, atthe opposite end, by a bracket 45 which is secured to the bottom plate36. A knob 46 enables one to rotate by hand the rod 44, which thendrives the plate 43 which in turn drives the plates 34 and 35. Thelatter then pivot about the axes of the screws 37 and 38 (FIG. 2), whichprovide an adjustment of the angle of the two beams projected on thescreen.

Referring more particularly now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus furtherincludes a switch 47 which controls the supply of the reflector lamps asapparent from FIG. 6, two reflectors 48 and 49 which are respectivelysecured at one end of the lens holders 4 and 5, and a blower 50 forcooling the lamps.

Preferably, the transparencies are comprised, as illustrated in FIG. 7,of a glass plate 51 on which the image or inscription is recorded, forinstance by transfer, and of a transparent coloured plastic sheet 52,which is stuck to the glass plate by means of adhesive tapes 53 and 54.This enables one to detach the sheet and substitute a differentlycoloured sheet when desired.

It is to be understood that various modifications may be brought to theapparatus as disclosed, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthis invention. In particular, a neon coloured transparency could beused, a rotatable disc having differently coloured sectors being theninterposed on the path of each of the two beams.

Another modification would consist in permanently 4 supplying the twolamps and providing the projectors with a mask which should interrupteach of the beams during suitable time intervals.

What I claim is:

1. A fixed view projector comprising: first and second projectionsystems each adapted for generating a light beam and forming a colouredimage in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of saidbeam; means for selecting the colours of the said images; switching andsupply means for operating each of said projection systems duringadjustable predetermined time intervals, the directions of the beamsgenerated by said first and second projection systems beingsubstantially contained in the same plane and forming an angle one withrespect to the other, the said projection systems being lodged in acabinet having an horizontal axis of rotation substantiallyperpendicular to the general direction of said beams; means foradjusting the inclination of the plane of the beams with respect to thehorizontal, the first and second projection systems being respectivelymounted on first and second plates, the cabinet having a bottom plateand said first and second plates being pivotally mounted on said bottomplate; and means for adjusting the angle of the directions of the beams,said means including a member rigidly connected to said first and secondplates; a threaded rod rotatably connected to the cabinet and adaptedfor displacing said member in a direction substantially parallel to thegeneral direction of said beams and a control knob for rotating the saidrod.

2. A fixed view projector comprising: first and second projectionsystems each adapted for generating a light beam and forming a colouredimage in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of saidbeam; means for selecting the colours of the said images; means foradjusting the directions of said beams so as to superimpose in the saidplane the images respectively formed by said first and second projectionsystems; and switching and supply means for operating each of saidprojection systems during adjustable predetermined time intervals, thesaid projection systems each including an optical system and a lamp, thesaid switching and supply means comprising first and second branchesconnected in parallel and having a common input adapted for connectionto a power supply source, each of said branches including a contactbreaker connected in series with one of said lamps; and switching meanscooperating with the said contact breakers for making contact in therespective branches during the said predetermined time intervals.

3. A fixed view projector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said switchingmeans include a motor having a shaft and a cam mounted on the saidshaft, said contact breakers having spring-urged levers and rollersmounted on the said levers and cooperating with the said cam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,011,581 8/1935 Hyde. 2,863,23912/ 1958 Glukes. 2,825,165 3/1958 Paterson. 3,025,756 3/1962 Howell etal. 3,045,541 7/ 1962 Bregman. 3,149,785 9/ 1964 Appleton 2403 3,282,15511/1966 Cleary et al.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner ROBERT P. GREINER, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

